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136 good-by in return, and leaped to the wharf. There we stood still to watch the departure of the launch, but the craft did not budge.

"What's the matter?" demanded the commodore, as he saw the engineer working over the miniature engine.

"The valve is out of order, sir," was the answer. "We ought to have a new one."

"Can't you run the launch back to the ship?"

"I'll try my best, sir."

I listened to this bit of conversation with interest, for, as I mentioned before, I was deeply interested in engines. As the engineer continued to work over the parts I came closer.

"Excuse me, but won't you let me take a look at that engine?" I said. "I know how these things are built."

"Certainly you can look at it," answered the commodore, and once more I leaped on board.

"Can't do anything with a split part," growled the engineer, a fellow named Graves. "A boy like you" He did not finish, but looked a good deal disgusted.

I took the lantern and got down on my knees. The cap over the valve was split, as he had said, and something had shifted below. It was certainly a "teasing" breakdown, but, luckily, I had seen such a fracture remedied before.